The Portland daily press., 1887-07-11

LAWRENCE, MISS, July 1U.-InSurancc
Commissioner George S. Merrill has made
the following statement of facts regarding
the arrest of New York life insurance COM
panies agents, which is exciting so much
controversy:
''In Saturday evenings papers | find the
following despatch from New York"
New YORK July g.
Regarding the arrest of Frederick Webber,
general agent Of the New York Life Insur-
ance Company, and G. Nj. Moore in Pitts
field, Mass, for unlawfully soliciting insur-
ance in the western part of that State.
Agent Henry w. BaldiHg of the company of
this city said Webber was their authorized
agent and was sent into Western Massaehu-
sets to do business. On the 18th of June he
appealed to the insurance department of
Massachusetts for a license. 1t seems that
instead of granting license the authorities,
without giving notice of a refusal, waited
month and then cause his arrest. Mr.. Web
Der carried out his instructions and is in no
way to blame. He attempted, on behalf OF
the company. to comply with the law and
satisfy the department.
AS this is a matter in which is involved
the laws Of Massachusetts affecting insur-
ance, allow me to say that the statements
above are absolutely untrue The public
statutes before the present law went into ef-
feet contained the following provisions: No
officer, agent or sub-agent Of foreign in
surance company shall act or aid in any
manner in transacting business of insurance
for or with such company, or placing or eff
fecting insurance in this commonwealth
without first procuring from the insurance
commissioner q certificate OF authority to do
so. There Is no pretence that Webber and
his associates possessed, or that they or the
company sending them into Massachusetts
had.S0 much as asked for such certificate OF
authority as above required. Their opera
flaos
ago, in open defiance of this statute. The
present law, which went into effect May %,
requires, not only as Gid the old statute that
all agents be licensed, but that only resi-
dents of the State shall be licensed. Not
until June 20, two days less than the full
month after the new law became operative,
did the Springfield agent of the New York
Life Insurance Company make a request
that Webber and Hamlin be licensed. No
license was ever asked for Moore, and this
Is the exact manner in which Webber at
tempted TO comply with the law and satisfy
the department. In no way could either of
these men, as the company knew full well,
licensed under the present law, as they were
not residents" Webber stamps upon his
policies, one of which is before me, "Freder-
lex Webber, general agent, 10. 1l9 Broad
way, New York" Had they been residents,
however, they would not have received Ii
eenses when recently applied for because
this department was then fully informed as
TO their legal transactions, and engaged in
collecting legal evidence thereof These are
the sweet innocents who would make them
selves martyr. If Webber was carrying
out his instructions" from his employer then
there was all the greater urgency for pro-
ceedlngs against the company by the Attor-
ney General, if not indeed the necessity for
still more vigorous measures by this de
partment.
(Signed) GEORGE 5. MERRILL.
Insurance Commissioner.
The commissioner further stated that if, as
would seem from the above despatch the
New York company proposes to assume the
responsibility for, and defend such a viola
ton of law as Webber's then it becomes his
duty to revoke altogether their license for
doing business within their commonwealth